These leaf-textured tiles made their debut during this year’s London Design Festival and were marketed as a contaminated water solution. The innovation is pioneered by the Bio-Integrated Design Lab at the Bartlett School of Architecture. The researchers utilized the algae’s tendency to filter water and remove chemical dyes and heavy metals
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The clever contaminated water solution boasts a modular, tiled wall structure. While the plates are made with pressed clay, the ravines of the surface are filled with "micro-algae which are suspended within the ‘biological scaffold’ of a seaweed-derived hydrogel" that keeps them alive. Individuals can simply pour water over the tiles and remove all toxins, ultimately purifying the liquid.
The contaminated water solution is called ‘Indus.’
Photo Credits: Andy Stagg
Detoxifying Algae-Infused Tiles
The Bio-Integrated Design Lab Boasts a Contaminated Water Solution
Trend Themes
1. Bio-integrated Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the integration of organic materials and sustainable design principles to create solutions for contaminated water.
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Industry Implications
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2. Water Treatment - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced filtration systems that leverage the natural properties of algae to remove toxins from contaminated water, providing cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solutions.
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